Automatic lock slider



July 26, 1949. A. E. CARLILE 2,477,439

AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER Filed Aug. 15, 1944 INVENTOR A L FRED. E. 04 RL /L E.

Patented July 26, 1949 AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDER Alfred E. Carlile, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 15, I944, Serial No. 549,508

This invention relates to slide fasteners and,

particularly, to an improved automatic lock slider therefor having a locking means especially adapted for use with non-metallic sliders.

It is a well-known fact that sliders made from non-metallic materials, for example, plastic or thermoplastic material such as cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, are considerably weaker in their construction than sliders made from metal, and consequently. many factors prevent the use of designs known for automatic locking metallic sliders. For instance, the plastic material from which non-metallic sliders are made is usually relatively soft compared with metal and obviously, is subject to excessive wear at bearing surfaces, especially should the locking member be pivotally attached to the plastic slider body. Also. the locking element and parts thereof, due to the characteristics of the material of a plastic slider body, can be neither conveniently nor successfully attached thereto as they can in the case of a metallic slider body.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a non-metallic slider havingan automatic locking means which is simple and inexpensive andwhich can be easily and conveniently applied to the slider body and, at the same time, a locking means which is efiicient and efiective in its use and one which will not subject the slider body to wear.

It is another object of the invention to provide 8 Claims. (01. 24-20514) an improved locking means which can be conveniently incorporated with non-metallic slider bodies of the non-locking type as they arepresently being manufactured without departing materially from the present design or manufacture thereof, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing any material changes in existing dies or molds in the manufacture of automatic lock sliders in accordance with the present invention. p 1

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved locking element for non-metallic sliders in the form of a clip-like member which can be assembled on the slider body merely by positioning the locking element thereon and forcing the same into engagement with the slider bya snapping action, thereby eliminating the need for any expensiveassembling tools or other equipment. p

It is still another objectof the present invention to provide an improved automatic nonmetallic lock slider which consists of a minimum number of parts and one which is strong and 2 ment which will not crush or become distorted when a normal pressure is applied to the top of the slider body.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener with the improved automatic lock slider of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom end view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the locking member; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a conventional type of slide fastener comprising cooperating rows of spaced interlocking fastener elements 2 attached to the opposed beaded edges of tapes or stringers 3. There is arranged on the rows of fastener elements a slider, generally designated at 4, for longitudinal movement therealong in opposite directions for opening and closing the fastener inta manner well-known to those skilled in the ar It is preferable that the type of slider used with the present invention be of the type disclosed in the patent to N. J. Poux, No. 2,274,161, dated February 24, 1942, which comprises a one-piece integral molded hollow slider body having a top or upper wing 5 and a bottom or lower wing 6, which are connected by an integral neck portion I. There is carried by the wing portions, inwardly extending flange portions 8 for guiding the fastener elements through the Y-shaped channel of the slider body. On the outer side of the top or upper wing 5, there is arranged integral with the slider body, a longitudinally extending and centrally disposed lug or loop portion 9, having an arcuated upper surface It. There is arranged through the lug or loop portion 9, an elongated transversely extending aperture It by means of which the pull tab or member is adapted to be attached to the slider body. In the upper end of the neck portion I, centrally of the slider body, there is arranged a recess II, which extends a substantial distance into the neck portion, as

rugged in its construction, having a locking ele- 5 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

According to the present invention, there is provided a locking element M, which is made preferably from an elongated relatively thin strip of inherently resilient metallic material. This locking element is preferably arcuated so as, to conform to the upper arcuated surface ll, of the lug cr loop 2, on which it is adapted to be disposed in one position, in a manner hereinafter to be described.

One end of the locking element is preferably reduced and tapered so as to provide a tongue or tab portion IE on the end thereof, having a width slightly less than the width of the recess l2 in the neck portion I of the slider body. On the opposite end of the locking element, preferably to one side thereof, there is arranged a locking pin or projection it, which is adapted to cooperate with the fastener elements to lock the slider against movement, in a manner later to be described. Intermediate the length of the locking element It and substantially centrally thereof, there is struck up from the material thereof, a pair of spaced-apart inwardly extending tab portions l1 and I3, thereby leaving a rectangular opening I! substantially in the center of the locking element. The extreme ends of each of the tab portions l1 and 18 are preferably bent or turned outwardly from each other so as to provide 'arcuated portions 20 and 2|, re-

spectively, on the extreme ends thereof.

The upper surface of the lug or loop portion 5 of the slider body is preferably drilled at spaced-apart points intermediate the width thereof directly above the aperture 13 therethrough, so as to provide a pair of spaced-apart holes 22 and 23. The holes 22 and 23 are positioned se that they communicate with the transverse aperture l3 ln the lug adjacent each end thereof. Between the holes 22 and 23, there is arranged on the upper surface of the lug or loop 9, preferably a rectangular-shaped raised pormember, and is inherently resilient, so that itcan be sprung into position on the slider body and held thereon solely due to its resilient char acteristic. The locking element is positioned on top of the lug or loop 3 and is forced downwardly upon the arcuated surfaceof the lug or loop. In forcing the locking element to such position, it will be seen that the tab portions l1 and I8 will .be moved into the holes 22 and 23, respectively,

in the lug portion 3, and that when the locking element is moved to superposed position against the upper surface of the lug or loop, the inwardly extending tab or tongue portion I! on I one end of the locking element, will be moved and sprung into the recess l2 in the neck portion 1. It will be seen that the locking element, while it isbeing forced into position on the lug, is sprung and that when it is finally in position on the lug. that it is held on the slider body, due primarily to the resiliency ofthe looking element. In other words, the locking element, after being sprung, is held in position on the lug of the slider body by means of the tongue or tab portion Ii dispc-sed in the recess l2 and the tab portions l1 and II. which are disposed in the holes 22 and 23, respectively, in the lug 9.

a '4 After the locking element has been assembled snapped on the slider, as above described.- it be seen that the outer ends of the tab portions l1 and I3, extend into the transverse ED? 5 erture l3, with the arcuated end portion'23 of the tab portion l1 being disposed at the upper end of the elongated aperture l3 and with the arcuated end portion 2| of the tab portion it being disposed at the lower end of the aperture.-

The pad-like key portion 24 of the lug 9 is disposed in the rectangular recess IQ of the lockin element so as to aid in positionin and maintalning the locking element in proper position on the lug. The lower or front end of the upp r wing 5 is preferably recessed as at 25, so that the front portion of the locking element will be disposed therein after the locking element has been forced into position'on the slider body. The locking prong l6 after assembly, extends 'Y-shaped channel of the slider body.

After the'iocking element has been mounted on the slider body, as above described, a pull member 26 is attached thereto with the pivotal or trunnion portion 21 thereof disposed movably in the transverse aperture l3 of the lug or loop 9 in a well-known manner.

When it is desired to move the slider along the fastener elements in a direction to close the fastener, it will be seen that the pivotal portion 21 of the pull-strikes the arcuated portion 20 of the tab portion ii at the upper end of the aperture l3, thereby lifting the locking element together with the locking prong carried thereby, out of the slider channel and out of engagement with the fastener elements therein. After the pull has been released, the locking element again assumes its normal position against the arcuated surface ll of er is moved in the direction to open the fastener,

it will be seen that the pivotal portion 21 of the pull strikes the arcuated portion 2| of the tab portion II at the lower end of the aperture I3, thereby again moving the locking element together with the locking projection l6, carried thereby, out of engagement with the fastener elements.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided an automatic lock slider consisting of a minimum number of parts, namely, three,

having a locking element which can be easily and quickly assembled on the slider body without the aid of tools or auxiliary fastening means. It will be seen also that the locking element can be conveniently fabricated from standard metallic stock and ,that the slider body can be conveniently 60 molded either from metallic or non-metallic materials.

While I have shown and described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment 65 is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as de- I fined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a slider for slide fasteners of the class described having a body member with an interior channel through which the fastener elements pass for engaging and disengaging the same, and a pull member, a locking device comprising a longitudibelow the top wing It into the lower end of the of said body member, an inherently resilient longitudinally extending locking member mounted on said lug, said locking member conforming substantially to the outer surface of said lug and being disposed thereon in superposed relation so as to encircle the same substantially throughout the length thereof, said locking member having means carried thereby at one end thereof engaging the slider body so that said end is substantially immovable relative thereto and having a locking projection on its opposite free yieldable endadapted normally to be urged, due to the inherent resilicncy thereof, into engagement with the fastener elements to lock the slider, said pull member connected to said lug for actuatingsaid slider, said locking member having means carried thereby intermediate the length thereof which cooperates with said pull whereby said locking member is moved out of engagement with the fastener elements when the pull is manipulated to move the slider in either direction along the fastener ele ments. l i

2. In a slider for slide fasteners of the class de- :cribedhaving a body member with an interior channel through which the fastener elements pass i for engaging and disengaging the same, and a pull member, a locking device comprisinga longitudinally extending lug positioned on the outer side of said body member, an inherently resilient longitudinally extending locking member mounted on said lugin superimposed relation, said locking slider body and having a locking projection on its opposite free end adapted in one position to engage the fastener elements to lock the slider, said lug having a transversely extending aperture arranged therethrough intermediate the length thereof, said pull member having the pivotal portion thereof disposed in said aperture, and means carried by said locking member which extends into said aperture and. with which the pivotal portion of said pull cooperates whereby said locking member is moved out of engagement with the fastener elements when the pull is manipulated to move the slider in either direction along the fastener elements.

3. In a slider for slide fasteners of the class described having a body member with an interior channel through which the fastener elements pass for engaging and disengaging the same, and a pull member, a locking device comprisin a longitudinally extending lug arranged on the outer side of said slide-r body, a spring locking member comprising a relatively thin piece of resilient material mounted on said lug in superimposed relation, said locking member conforming substantially to the outer surface of said lug so that it rests thereon and encircles the same substantially throughout the length thereof, said locking member having means carried thereby at one end thereof engaging said slider body and having a lockin projection on its opposite free end adapted in one position to engage the fastener elements to lock the slider, said lug having an elongated transverse aperture arranged therethrough intermediate the length thereof, said pull member having the pivotal portion thereof disposed in said aperture, said lug having at least one opening arranged in the outer surface thereof communicating with said transverse aperture, and a pair of spaced-apart inwardly projecting tab portions carried by said locking member and extending through the open- I ing in said ing into said transverse aperture with one positioned adjacent each end thereof and with which the pivotal portion of said pull cooperates whereby said locking member is moved out of engagement with the fastener elements when the pull is manipulated to move the slider in either direction along the fastener elements.

4. In a slider for slide fasteners of the class described having a body member with an interior channel through which the fastener elements pass for engaging and disengaging the same, and a pull membena locking device comprising a longitudinally extending lug arranged on the outer side of said slider body, a spring locking member comprising a relatively thin piece of resilient material mounted on said lug in superimposed relation, said locking member conforming substantially to the outer surface of said lug so that it rests thereon and encircles the same substantially throughout the length thereof, said locking member having means carried thereby at one end thereof engaging said slider body and having a locking projection on its opposite free end adapted in one position to engage the fastener elements to lock the slider, said lug having an elongated transverse aperture arranged therethrough intermediate the length thereof, said pull member having the pivotal portion thereof disposed in said aperture, a pair of spaced-apart openings arranged in the outer surface of said lug with one of said openings being positioned adjacent each end of said transverse aperture and communicating therewith, and a pair of spaced-apart inwardly projecting tab portions carried by said locking member with one of the tab portions disposed in each of said openings and extending into said transverse aperture with which said tab portions the pivotal portion of said pull cooperates whereby the looking member is moved out of engagement with the fastener elements when the pull is manipulated to move the slider in either direction along the fastener.

5. In a lock slider of the class described having a channeled slider body with spaced wing portions connected at one end thereof by a neck portion and with one of said wings having a centrally and longitudinally extending arcuated lug arranged on the outer surface thereof, and

a pull member, a locking device comprising a spring locking element consisting of an elongate relatively thin strip of resilient material, said element being arcuated and disposed on said arcuated lug in superposed relation, means arranged on one end of said element engaging the slider body adjacent the neck portion thereof. a locking projection arranged on the opposite free end of said locking element, said lug portion having a transverse aperture extending therethrough intermediate the length thereof, said pull member pivotally attached to said lug and extending through said aperture, and means carried by said locking element extending into said aperture with which said pull member cooperates to move the locking element to unlocked position, said locking element being constructed and arranged so that it is held in position on said lug portion primarily due to the inherent resiliency of said element.

6. In a lock slider of the class described having a channeled slider body with spaced wing portions connected at one end thereof by a neck portion and with one of said wings having a centrally and longitudinall extending arcuated lug arranged on the outer surface thereof, and a pull member, a locking device comprising a spring locking'element consisting of an elongate rel atively thin strip of resilient material, said element'being arcuated and disposed on said arcuated lug in superposed relation, means arranged on one end of said element engaging the slider body adjacent the neck portion thereof, a locking projection arranged on the opposite free end of said locking element, said lug portion having an elongated transverse aperture extending therethrough intermediatethe length thereof, said pull member pivotally attached to said lug and extending through said aperture, and a pair of inwardly projecting spaced-apart tab portions carried by said element intermediate the length thereof and projecting through openings in the lug into said transverse aperture and with which i said pullmember cooperates to move the looking element to unlocked position, said locking element and said tab portions being constructed and arranged so that said locking element is. held in position on said lug portion primarily due tothe inherent resiliency of said element.

. 7. In an automatic lock slider for slide fasteners of the class described having a channeled slider body of thermoplastic material consisting of spaced-apart wing portions connected by a neck portion, and a pull member, a locking device comprising an arcuated lug portion arranged centrally and longitudinally of the other surface of one of said wing portions, a spring locking element consisting of an elongated relatively thin strip of resilient material, said element being arcuated and disposed on said lug portion in superposed relation. a locking projection ar ranged on the opposite free end of said locking element, said lug portion having a transverse aperture extending therethroughintermediate the length thereof, said pull member pivotally attached to said lug portion and extending through said aperture, means carried by said locking element extending into said aperture with which said pull member cooperates to move the looking element to unlocked position, and means carried by said locking element for attaching the same to the slider whereby it can be positioned 8. In an automatic lock slider for slide fasteners of the class described having a channeled slider bodyv of thermoplastic material consistin of spaced-apart wing portions connected by a neck portion having a recess arranged in the.

outer side thereof, and a pull member, a locking device comprising an'arcuated lug portion arranged centrally and longitudinally of the other surface of one of said wing-portions, a sprin lockingelement consisting'of an elongated relatively thin strip of resilient material, said ele ment being arcuated and disposed on said lug portion in superposed relation, and having an inwardly projecting portion arranged on one end thereof which is disposed in the recess of said neck portion, a locking projection arranged on \the opposite free end of said locking element,

said lug portion having a transverse aperture extending therethrough intermediate the length thereof, said pull member attached to said lug portion by means of said aperture, and a pair of inwardly projecting spaced-apart tab portions carried by said'locking element intermediate the on said lug portion and sprung, due to the resili- I ency thereof, into engagement with said slider body.

length thereof and projecting through openings in the lug portion into said transverse aperture and with which said pull member cooperates to move the locking element to unlocked position,

both said inwardly projecting portion on one end -of said locking element and said tab portions carried thereby being constructed and arranged so that said element is held in position on said liig portion, due primarily to the'resiliency there- 0 7 AIJ'RED E. CARLILE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: a 

